Between Innings: Mundelein’s Maranto will join Marras at Butler

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Updated: January 23, 2012 5:07PM

The M and M club.

Mundelein middle infielder Chris Maranto will join Vernon Hills senior catcher Chris Marras at Butler University next year.

Marras was the Pioneer Press Lake Shore Position Player of the Year in 2011. He led the Cougars with a .444 batting average. He hit five home runs and drove in 43 runs.

Maranto could be a steal. He not only is a solid defender, but he hit .352 with nine doubles, five triples and five home runs last spring for the Mustangs. He knocked in 36 runs and scored 43 times.

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Carmel Catholic senior Alex Young certainly will be a pitcher to watch this spring.

The senior, who is ranked No. 9 in the senior class by PBR, has been recruited by Texas Christian. He’s a lefty who throws in the mid-80s.

The 6-foor-3 Young, who put together a strong summer season with the Northern Knights, also can swing the bat. He hit .365 for the Corsairs last spring with seven doubles.

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The Prep Baseball Report also has reported that Lake Forest senior Matt Lawrence has committed to LaFayette College, which competes in the Patriot League.

The future Leopards player earned all-conference honors for the Scouts last spring. He just missed hitting .400 (.392).

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Jordan Schwartz, a slick fielding shortstop for Highland Park High School, has made a verbal commitment to the University of Texas-Dallas.

The Giants senior, a switch hitter, is coming off a strong junior campaign when he hit .354. He finished with team-highs in hits (35), runs (26) and stolen bases (9). His on-base percentage was .862.

Schwartz, who played his club ball with the Northern Knights, will be going to a highly successful Division III program in UT-Dallas. The Comets, who compete in the American Southwest Conference, were 29-18 last season. They have put together 10 straight winning seasons.

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Jeremy Scheck has left Clemson University.

According to the Prep Baseball Report, the left-hander, a 2011 graduate of Stevenson High School, has transferred to the University of Illinois.

Scheck (6-foot, 185 pounds) is looking to make up for lost time. Due to an elbow injury, he did not pitch during his junior and senior seasons at Stevenson.

Scheck, who will be eligible to pitch this spring for Ilinois, has been highly regarded for several years. PBR ranked him in the top 10 in Illinois in the Class of 2011.

Illinois likes Lake County. Two of the area’s top seniors — Stevenson shortstop Adam Walton and Highland Park catcher Jason Goldstein — will play for the Fighting Illini next year.

Goldstein (ranked No. 2 by PBR) will be a four-year starter for the Giants. He hit .388 last spring. He was even more impressive playing for Top Tier last summer.

Walton, meanwhile, batted .350 for the Patriots, knocking in a team-high 38 runs.

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Two of Lake Zurich’s top players have made their college choices.

Sean Eder, a power pitcher and power hitter, will play at Ball State.

Mike Lutz, who is ranked No. 27 by PBR, will pitch at Purdue.

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No doubt, when it comes to the this area, the 2012 class is loaded.

Mundelein left-hander Ryan Borucki — ranked No. 5 by PBR — has signed with Iowa.

Libertyville outfielder Nick Coutre is headed to Villanova.

Stevenson outfielder Max Golembo remains undecided but is highly touted.